WESTERN POSTS SHUTOUT IN OPENING ROUND WIN OVER BLACKFORD

RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. – The Blackford Bruins football team arrived in Russiaville for its Class 3A Sectional 28 football opener against Western behind schedule due to a bussing issue. The night never got better for the visiting team. Four first quarter Panther touchdowns propelled Western to a 38-0 victory in week one of playoff action.

Western took the opening drive of the game up the middle of the field, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run by Kyler Vail. That drive took 2:13 off the first quarter game clock. They were back in the end zone with just 2:25 off the clock. On the ensuing kickoff, Blackford fumbled at the 29 yard line. One play later, wideout Jacob Douglass took a handoff from quarterback Tyler Knepley, then stopped and fired a 29-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Heady to put the Panthers up 12-0 less than two-and-a-half minutes into the game.

Blackford finally got on track with Chase Mahan completing his first pass 27-yards downfield to Gavin Dyer. But the drive stalled, forcing the Bruins punt unit to take the field. A personnel mix-up forced Blackford to call a timeout, and out of the timeout they snapped the ball well over the punters head and Western had the ball with excellent field position. Four plays later, Knepley found Vail for a touchdown strike and the Panthers led 18-0 three seconds past the halfway point of the first quarter. The only downside to Western’s performance to that point was missing all three two-point conversion plays.

Western’s Black Attack defense stayed aggressive and forced another Blackford punt on its next possession. Western’s first two plays resulted in no gain, then Douglass made a great leaping catch for a 59-yard pass play from Knepley. Four plays later, Vail found the end zone for the third time in the first quarter, this one a 5-yard run. After the extra point cleared the uprights, the Panthers led 25-0 after one quarter.

With 8:26 left in the second quarter, Cameron Dessing put the game away with a 69-yard bolt up the middle to put the Panthers up 32-0. He tacked on the final score late in the fourth quarter, and the defense stood tall in the final seconds at the goal line to preserve the shutout – Western’s second of the season.

Dessing ended with a career-high 201 yards rushing and two touchdowns; Douglass rushed for 73 yards. Knepley, who only played one half due to an injury, finished 3-4 for 83 yards while Douglass stepped in and finished with 35 yards passing. The Panther offense finished with 420 yards of total offense (308 rushing, 112 passing).

Welcome to the Sweet 16, Sister Jean. Loyola-Chicago's Cinderella story is just one delightful development in this year's field. Half the 1-seeds are gone, and there's no telling who has the upper hand to reach the Final Four.